Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong and Vice Mayor Xu Kunlin pose for photos with Magnolia Gold Award winners 2019.

Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong bestowed Magnolia Gold Awards 2019 medals and certificates on twelve foreigners at the city hall on Sept. 29, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the city's social and economic development as well as international cooperation.

The winners come from Italy, Britain, France, Japan, Germany, Denmark, the United States, and Singapore, and are engaged in a wide range of fields such as economics & trade, finance, shipping, science & technology, culture and service industries. They have been living in Shanghai for many years and have forged profound friendship with local residents.

Mr. Julian Guy Blissett delivers a speech on behalf of the laureates at the presentation ceremony.

"We come from different industries and cultural backgrounds, but we share a few things in common. We all love Shanghai, we all want to contribute to Shanghai’s growth and we are proud of its achievements”, stated Mr. Julian Guy Blissett from the UK, Executive Vice President of SAIC General Motors Co., Ltd., during his speech on behalf of the laureates, adding that the second China International Import Expo will open in Shanghai this November. Automobile and other industries are moving ahead for the expo at “Shanghai speed”.

Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong poses for photos with Ms. Bettina Schoen-Behanzin.

"I feel very honored and moved because I have been living in Shanghai for 23 years. I really love the city. My whole family is here. My son was born in Shanghai. I'm very grateful and happy", said German winner Ms. Bettina Schoen-Behanzin, Regional representative Asia of Freudenberg Group and Managing Director of Freudenberg Management (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. 

She recalled the time when she first came to Shanghai in 1987 as a student studying in Fudan University. "I took a bicycle from the university to the Bund. And it was flat in Pudong across the river. Today, after over 30 years, the development the city has been through is so amazing!" she added.

Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong poses for photos with Mr. Gianpietro Belotti and his family.

Italian laureate Mr. Gianpietro Belotti attended the presentation ceremony with his wife and one of their twin daughters. He moved to Shanghai in 2004 and now he is CEO of Santoni (Shanghai) Knitting Machinery Co., Ltd. He felt very proud to receive the award, seeing it as the best moment of his 15 years here. "It is not only for winning the award, but for being part of the city", he said. 

Part of the messages written by the winners.

Ms. Eleanor Joanna Waley-Cohen, Provost of Shanghai New York University is a winner from the United States. She believes that Shanghai is changing all the time just as people who live here often say, "I feel I’m seeing the future". She’s glad to watch both Chinese and international students learn and understand how other people see the world. It is an important part of promoting multicultural exchanges.

Shanghai Vice Mayor Xu Kunlin delivers a speech.

Shanghai Vice Mayor Xu Kunlin said in his speech that a total of 332 foreigners have received the Magnolia Gold Award since it was created in 1992, noting that the city is going all out to build itself into an international economic, financial, trade, shipping and innovation center, to establish Shanghai’s brands in services, manufacturing, shopping and culture. These will provide great opportunities to foreigners in Shanghai.

“We will fully engage our friends from overseas and share these opportunities with all of you. We hope that you will continue to offer suggestions and insights for Shanghai’s socioeconomic development and together we can make Shanghai an even greater city”, he added.

2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the city’s Magnolia Award series commending foreigners. Till now, more than 1500 expats have won the awards.

2019 Shanghai “Magnolia Gold Award” Recipients

1、Mr. Gianpietro Belotti，Italy，CEO, Santoni (Shanghai) Knitting Machinery Co., Ltd.

2、Mr. Julian Guy Blissett，UK，Executive Vice President, SAIC General Motors Co., Ltd

3、Mr. Thierry Garnier，France，President & CEO，Carrefour (China) Management & Consulting Service Co., Ltd.

4、Mr. Yukitaka Ito，Japan，Chairman & President，Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (China) Co., Ltd.

5、Mr. Stephan Kothrade，Germany，President Functions Asia Pacific，President and Chairman Great China, BASF，BASF (China) Co., Ltd.

6、Mr. Simon Lichtenberg，Denmark，Founder & CEO，Trayton Group/Simon Li Furniture China Co., Ltd.

7、Mr. Claude Maillot，France，Senior Vice President，Chief Executive For Marine & Offshore North Asia Zone And China，Bureau Veritas Marine (China) Co., Ltd. 

8、Ms. Rosalind Stephanie Oliver，UK，Lecturer，Shanghai University

9、Ms. Bettina Schoen-Behanzin，Germany，Regional representative Asia of Freudenberg Group，Managing Director of Freudenberg Management (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. 

10、Mr. Raymond Charles Stevens，USA，Founding Director，Professor of iHuman Institute，Shanghai Tech University

11、Ms. Eleanor Joanna Waley-Cohen，USA，Provost，Shanghai New York University

12、Mr. Yi Zhun Zhu，Singapore，Dean & Chair Professor， School of Phamacy, Macau University of Science and Technology Chair Professor，Fudan University 

By Wang Jiaye

Photos by Pan Jiandong